Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-01-21

called for Lillian at the American Hotel.
She read the forgery to Mrs. Dickinson
and got her permission to 60. She got on
the cars at Millboro on the evening OF
March II, but by delay of the train did
not arrive in Richmond till about O'Clock
that night. She went to the American
Hotel, registered as ''Miss +. L. Merton"
and was assigned to room No. 81. The
next morning Friday, she took breakfast
in her room, and while eating it a boy
brought to the hotel note for miss F.
L. Merton" Showing that Cluverius
knew her assumed nancy She answered
1t as follows: 81 will bsthsre as soon as
possible. So do wait for MAJ
This note she put in an envelope, ad-
dressed to T. J. Cluverius, and gave 1t to
the waiter. When the waiter reached the
office the boy who brought the note had
gone and the clerk retained the note. 1t
was this note that first led to the suspicion
IF CiuverIus who mad arrived ein nich-
mond on Thursday morning. March II,
and registered at the Capitol House. In a
short time Lillian Was out on the street
ard posted letter 90 Mrs. Tunstall, her
(and Cluverius) aunt, in King William.
Though that was March Is b, she datei 1t
N arch fourteenth, and though she knew
Cuverius was 10 Richmond, she sent a
message to him, "Tell Tommie l will
write real soon." In this she Tad evident
" acted under the advice of Cluverius
without knowing his real motive, which
Was to show if he got into trouble. that
the woman who was dead on the night of
the 18th was alive to write a letter on the
14th. when he could be, and was, back at
1is home. During that fatal Friday she
was seen with him, and both were posi-
lively identified by witnesses-on Belle
Island, at 1920; at a house of ill-fame on
Fifteenth street shortly after; at the Am
erican Hotel alone at dinner at 1:30, each
iime with the red shawl and blue jersey
which she left Millboro in. At Belle Island
she spoke to Cluverius aud said, why,
Cousin Tommiel !" [Long after the trial
a workman at the g. & o. Shops made a
statement that on that day, or the next,
ne could not be certain, a woman answer.
ing to Llllian's description stopped him
about dark, and asked TO be sho wn to the
Geacher, from Roanoke. and had but one
acquaintance in the city, Miss Curtis, on
church Hill. He took her to the hotel and
went up the stairs with her and called the
servant. This, however, was not in the
the evidence on the trial. AT night about
8 80, Cluverius positively identii.dl called
at the American and sent his card to the
'slady in No. 81" aud spoke of her as 1.-THE
young lady who went to school with his
sister,, still carrying out the Harry Cur
tbs idea. at O'Clock he was seen to board
street car in front of the hotel with her.
The Car driver let them off (people dressed
as they were) at the end of the line on the
street leading to the Reservoir few mi
lutes after 8 O'Clock. and the same people
were met by doctor walking down TO-
wards the reservoir, the man having his
nat pulled down oyer his tace. The reser-
voir is gloomy, unfrequented place on
the edge of the city, and the night was
stormy and sleety.
DEAD, AND TRACKING THE MURDERER
That night about IL or l O'clock, CIuve.
:ius returned to the Capitol House. order
ed drink of whisky TO be sent to his room
and went to bed to be called at sunrise to
take the cars for home. Saturday morning
he left. That same sunrise found Lillian
Madison resting. dead, against the slanting
side of the reservoir, the slant having pre-.
vented her from sinking when thrown in.
A bruise was on her forehead. but no
breaking of the skin. She had never known
where the reservoir was in life. and must
have been carried there. Her hat and
shawl. thrown away many yardsifrom the
reservoir, showed by the fine reservoir
sand found on them that they had been
there before being in the place where they
were fund. Tracks marked severe
struggle at the point she was thrown in.
A discovery fatal to the accused was made
there. His watch-key was picked up neal
that spot. 1t was this that gave the coun
sci for the defense many an anxious con-
sultation. A jeweler had received the key
once from Cluverius to mend, and be
mended 1t. He testified that he believed il
l/ou h,,t ho
ted to open it and take 1t apart he would
be certain. The counsel for the defense
refused to permit it to be taken apart
This was fatal before jury-as fatal az
the failure Of the counsel to attempt tt
show where their client was that nigh
from to O'Clock. Later on in the story
of this crime this watch key reappears witt
even more dramatic fatality 1t was the
envelope directed to T. j. Cluverius. sem
by Lillian from room NJ 81 on the morn
ing of the fatal day that brought Cluverius
into the case, The officers went to King
William and arrested him at his aunt's
house. On their way there they had plan
ned to look at his watch-chain and see II
there was key there. aud when they first
saw him and missed the key from his chair
they exchanged glances.
CONVICTED BY HIMSELF.
When Cluverius was arrested, he evil
IDENTIFY thought all his plaDs had worked
we'll and that there was nothing to con-
meet him with the dead woman. She had
doubtless by his advice, spent the night
before leaving Mrs. Dickinson's for Rich
mond, in burning all the letters she had
received from hin. Nothing was left to
tell of his connection with her Richmond
visit. She. too, thought she had burned